At MWC, Asus were showing off its Zenfone 2, a phone which is offering amazing value with huge specs. It it home territories, it is selling fast. Asus has now put this stunning video together to tempt you with all its power, camera and more.
Android Wear to receive updates for WiFi notifications and gestures
Google is about to address one of the advantages Apple Watch has over Android Wear by allowing compatible wearables to receive notifications over Wi-Fi. A future update will also bring gesture controls, sources say.
Wi-Fi support is one of the Apple Watch features over an Android Wear Watch. By enabling communication over Wi-Fi, Android Wear watches will be able to receive notifications and use Google Now even when their Bluetooth connection to a phone is broken.
This and gestures will be added via a software update later on in the year.
Source – the verge.com
Google opens its own store in London
Google has opened its first-ever branded shop, choosing the Currys PC World on London’s Tottenham Court Road as the location.
The store, to be called The Google shop, will sell the company’s range of Android phones and tables, Chromebook laptops, and Chromecast TV services. The shop will hold tutorials showing consumers how to use the devices and hold demonstrations showing off key Google apps. It will operate as a “shop in shop” within the Currys PC Word. Google plans to open two further areas within Currys PC Worlds in Fulham, west London, and Thurrock, Essex.
The shop will host regular classes and events. These will include tutorials about online security as well as how to use Google devices. It will also hold “Virtual Space Camps” to teach children the basics of coding, and “Open House” events where teachers can test potential educational tools.
Source Telegraph
LG G4 – LG’s new Flagship – photos
Twitter user @onleaks have been revealing a number of apparent renders of the upcoming new LG G4. The new flagship from LG is meant to feature a metal based body, slightly curved and a overhaul of the LG software package. Some dimensions were also shared, with the LG G4 coming in at 148.9 x 76.5 x 9.9mm. The LG G3 is 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm meaning the LG G4 is larger than the outgoing LG G3. Also the camera looks significantly larger, maybe a 20mp affair.
So based on the photo renders, would you prefer this to the Samsung Galaxy S6 or HTC One M9?
Belkin WeMo Range – Special offer 30% off Deal of the Day
This morning I noticed Amazon had on their deal of the day 30% off the Belkin WeMo range which includes the Belkin Home Automation switch and Smart Lights. I personally use both of these products. The Home Automation switch is a wireless plug that you can turn on and off via the Belkin app both whilst at home and when away from your home. I reviewed the Smart Lights https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/01/01/belkin-wemo-smart-light-bulb-starter-kit-review/ on the 1st January 2015, and I still use these everyday in my lounge. As I said, all the range is 30% for today only. To see everything and learn more click below –
Google starts rollout of Android 5.1 – details
On the official Android blog, Google stated that the 5.1 Lollipop update has began.
New features are native dual SIM support, joining Wi-Fi networks and controlling Bluetooth settings directly from the quick settings menu, and HD voice calling. Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 get a new Device Protection feature built in, ie. a kill switch.
Just a shame my Samsung Note 4 (UK official version) is still on Android 4.4!
Source -www.androidpolice.com
In other Watch news – Google releases a new Watch advert for android wearable
Based on the extensive news coverage yesterday, Google’s Android Wearable advert got lost in space. But here is there new android wearable advert.
Samsung Gear VR (Virtual Reality Headset) – First Impressions
The Samsung Gear VR (Virtual Reality) headset arrived over a week ago. I have been keen to try this out for ages to see what all the fuss is about.
The Gear VR sits comfortably on your head. The controls are simple. You have a trackpad on the side, a back button and an adjustment for the screen on top. Before you purchase/use the Gear VR, Samsung provides the longest document warning you of all the potential dangers of using this product, the importance of short sessions and plenty of breaks, sickness and all the potential side effects. Enough warnings to put you off using the product!
The Gear VR costs £169 or £199 with the Samsung Game Controller which you will need for some of the games. Starting off you have a screen in front of your eyes giving you access to the special VR store and all the options/games/apps available.
It is really easy to control and select different games and so, just by using the track pad on the Gear VR and/or moving your head.
The experience of using the Gear VR is out of this world. Virtual Reality is clearly the future of gaming. It is hard to describe how dramatic the vision is and how real it feels. At times, I felt like I did not want to move as I would fall off the cliff edge!
But there are the negatives. My Note 4 battery life had the juice sucked out of it at a rapid rate. You really will be using the fast charging mode on the Note 4. The Note 4 does get hot but nothing that worried me. The Note Edge does not fit/work with the Gear VR. Side effects. Samsung mentions sickness as a potential side effect. Temple Run VR is awesome to play, but OMG its super vomit territory. It is one of the worst games for side effects. If you manage to play for 5 minutes without at least feeling really sick, you deserve a gold star. One of my twitter friends James Burland, suggested I tried Titans of Space. That was a great recommendation, so be sure to play that game yourself if you do get one a Gear VR.
At the moment, it really is a developing product and it is definitely one I am excited about. Just note the side effects might impact your enjoyment.
Apple Watch from £299 to £13,500 – My views based on all my wearable devices
So yesterday Apple held its Spring Forward event. And officially launched the Apple Watch. It comes in 3 pricing tiers. Cheap, Expensive and if you need to ask, you cannot afford it. Or Apple Sport from £299-£339, Apple Steel from £479 to £949 and Apple Watch Edition from £8,000 to £13,500. You can also buy extra straps and a spare charger for the Apple Watch.
The included apps by Apple are messages, phone, mail, calendar, activity, workout, maps, passbook, siri, music, camera remote, remote, weather, stocks, photos, alarm, stopwatch, timer, world clock and settings. The Apple Watch allows you to take calls, see your notifications, respond to them, share your heart beat, download third party apps and a whole lot more. The US version has Apple Pay app included.
If you want to learn more about the Apple Watch click here – http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/
So what do I think based on the Spring Forward Event and all the information released on the web.
Pros – Beautifully designed watch, stunning looking apps and also stunning third party apps. Likely to get launched with tons of apps and likely the best watch app eco system from day 1. Just look at some of the apps here – http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/app-store-apps/ .Price points. Different prices depending on your budget and then a mega expensive version for exclusivity. I have no qualms with any of Apple’s pricing models as the Sport version looks superb and is the cheapest. Of course you do need an iPhone. If you want to know more about the finishes, Apple produces a number of videos – http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/films/ . The taptic feedback system is a clever idea, as is all the customisable watch faces/options. The heart beat sharing is cool. The hardware is gorgeous for a smartwatch. Phone calls on the watch don’t have to be just via bluetooth as the watch also connects via wifi, meaning you phone can be anywhere in the house and connect to the watch, so long as its connected to the same wifi network.
Cons – Dreadful battery life of only 18 hours. There is a powersave mode to help keep the watch alive until you get home to recharge, so at least in this mode you can still use it as a watch. Untested in real world for reliability. You need to own an iPhone 5 or later, so if you had a iPhone 4S which is only 2.5 years old, you would have to upgrade your iPhone to a newer model.
So based on all my current experience using many wearables (see my reviews on wearables, index, reviews), my main concern is its battery life. This is not good enough based on what Apple declared as all day battery life equalling 18 hours. Secondly, all these apps and services – the more you have on the Apple Watch the worse the battery life will be. Plus, it is likely the watch will drain your iPhone battery too. Also, it is trying to be everything for everyone. Maybe the smartphone is dead, and the new smartphone will be on your wrist. But seriously, if I want to check items out, the iPhone has a much better and larger screen.
I will reserve further judgement until I have seen and used the Apple Watch myself. But I stand by my thoughts for now. I also asked myself how many people actually wear watches now? I used to years ago, but now use my phone to check the time. Well that was the case, but now I can use my FitBit Charge HR if required.
What do you think about the Watch?
Update – Apple has released a new battery page for the Apple Watch – http://www.apple.com/watch/battery.html – All-day battery life is based on 18 hours with the following use: 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, over the course of 18 hours. Battery life varies by use, configuration, and many other factors; actual results will vary.Talk Time Test -Up to 3 hours. Hmmm. Dreadful as I first thought.
And one last thing. Apple choose 10th April as the day pre-orders go live, the same day Samsung launches its Samsung Galaxy S6. Coincidence?
Apple Spring Event – Apple TV, new MacBook and Research apps
So apart from the Apple Watch, Apple also announced the following –
1) Apple TV – now reduced to £59
2) MacBook 12 inch – a new slimmer MacBook was announced in 3 colours. http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/ Seriously stunning and some amazing engineering. But only one connection port. The USB-C port allows Charging, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps),Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output, VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately) and HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately).
3) Upgraded internals for other MacBooks.
4) 5 Research apps – Apple announced the Research Kit. The 5 medical research apps include glucose, cancer, asthma and more. It allows the iPhone user to privately submit data for research purposes to help combat these diseases. Maybe even help find a cure. I thought this was a really good idea, and even better that Apple would make this Open Source too.
5) HBO Now – Coming to Apple TV.
There was also a whole range of updates on units sold and Apple’s success.
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